Virginia Tech Recreational Sports will offer lessons in swimming, gymnastics, and babysitter training to members of the local community. Registration is available online for all three activities. There will also be open house information sessions for swim and gymnastics, where participants can meet instructors and receive a free lesson.

The instructional swim open house will take place Saturday, Nov. 6 in McComas Hall in two identical sessions. Check-in for the 10 a.m. session begins at 9 a.m. and check-in for the 11 a.m. session begins at 10:30 a.m. Each session consists of an introduction to the sport and instructors along with a 30-minute swim lesson. Adults and children of all swimming levels are welcome to participate. Children will have the opportunity to meet the HokieBird and the MaggieMoo’s cow character while enjoying MaggieMoo’s ice cream.

The instructional gymnastics open house will take place Saturday, Nov. 13 in the War Memorial Hall gymnastics room. Registration and check-in for Tumble Tots and Tumble Foundations classes begins at 10 a.m. Registration and check-in for Tumble Basics and advanced classes begins at 11 a.m.

The open house events are free and open to the public. To reserve a spot, pre-registration is available online for both events. Walk-up registration is available on the day of each open house session.

The babysitter training course, designed for 11- to 15-year-olds, will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 13 in McComas Hall. It will teach basic care skills and offer Red Cross certification in First Aid and CPR. Registration is available online and required for participation.

“We are having the open houses to remind the public that rec sports is here to help the community learn, grow, and be active,” said Whitney Evans, assistant director of aquatics and instructional programs. “We want to help everyone in the community lead a healthy lifestyle.”

Participants are encouraged to park in the Cassell Coliseum lot for the swim open house and babysitter training course, and around the Drillfield for the gymnastics open house. Both locations offer free public parking on Saturdays.

For additional information on these programs, call (540) 231-9917, or visit the Recreational Sports website.

Written by Hannah Wilson, of Danville, Va., a senior majoring in communication in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.

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